Nearly over a year ago, the Milwaukee Bucks made a blockbuster trade by acquiring Damian Lillard in a three-team trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns. Many were wondering how Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo were going to co-exist with each other in the first season.
They will hope things will go better with them during the second season. Lillard and Antetokounmpo were both injured during the first-round series against the Indiana Pacers a season ago. The Bucks have not gotten past the first round of the NBA playoffs in the last two seasons.
Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo Makes Honest Assessment About Damian Lillard On Media Day
On Monday, it was media day for the Milwaukee Bucks and other NBA franchises. Antetokounmpo, other players on the Bucks roster, and head coach Doc Rivers also spoke to the media as well. Antetokounmpo told Eric Nehm of The Athletic about playing with Damian Lillard again this season:
“I think now we’re in a very, very good place. Before, we never had a player like him. It’s just something that slowly, slowly with time you understand. It’s definitely hard when I’m 29 and he’s 34 at this moment of our careers to kind of change the habits you’ve created, but if you want to win, you have to do so. I think we both — me, him and the rest of our team — are willing to do whatever it takes to win.”
Antetokounmpo and Lillard are two of the Top 15 scorers in the NBA. As long as both of them stay healthy this season, they will be scoring points in bunches. One of the things the Bucks will need to do better this season from the start is playing better defense.
Jrue Holiday Won NBA Title With the Boston Celtics
When the Bucks traded away Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers in the three-team trade last year, there was some backlash for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Portland traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics before the start of the season.
Jrue Holiday played a huge role for the Celtics when they won the NBA title last season. He also played a huge role for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2020-2021 season when they won the title. Holiday was very good on the defensive end for the Celtics and anywhere else he has played. Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo will need to deliver for the Milwaukee Bucks this season.
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